CA1145632A - Heater - Google Patents
HeaterInfo
- Publication number
- CA1145632A CA1145632A CA000369535A CA369535A CA1145632A CA 1145632 A CA1145632 A CA 1145632A CA 000369535 A CA000369535 A CA 000369535A CA 369535 A CA369535 A CA 369535A CA 1145632 A CA1145632 A CA 1145632A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- air
- fire
- place
- heating unit
- heated
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F24—HEATING; RANGES; VENTILATING
- F24B—DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES FOR SOLID FUELS; IMPLEMENTS FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH STOVES OR RANGES
- F24B1/00—Stoves or ranges
- F24B1/18—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces
- F24B1/185—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces with air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating ; Controlling combustion
- F24B1/188—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces with air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating ; Controlling combustion characterised by use of heat exchange means , e.g. using a particular heat exchange medium, e.g. oil, gas
- F24B1/1885—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces with air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating ; Controlling combustion characterised by use of heat exchange means , e.g. using a particular heat exchange medium, e.g. oil, gas the heat exchange medium being air only
- F24B1/1886—Stoves with open fires, e.g. fireplaces with air-handling means, heat exchange means, or additional provisions for convection heating ; Controlling combustion characterised by use of heat exchange means , e.g. using a particular heat exchange medium, e.g. oil, gas the heat exchange medium being air only the heat exchanger comprising only tubular air ducts within the fire
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Housings, Intake/Discharge, And Installation Of Fluid Heaters (AREA)
- Direct Air Heating By Heater Or Combustion Gas (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
There is disclosed a heating unit adapted to be positioned within an open fire-place and comprising a passage of serpentine configuration contained within a heater box comprising an upper plate of heat conductive material and upon which fuel to be burnt is positioned, front and rear walls, and a bottom wall. The passage is formed by upstanding wall members extending between the upper plate and the bottom wall and communicates at one end with an inlet for air to be heated and at the other end with an outlet for heated air positioned such that heated air will not issue directly into the path of the natural draw of air to the fire-place.
A number of series of baffle plates are provided at spaced apart positions along the length of the passage and each extends downwardly from the upper plate to a position spaced from the bottom wall.
There is disclosed a heating unit adapted to be positioned within an open fire-place and comprising a passage of serpentine configuration contained within a heater box comprising an upper plate of heat conductive material and upon which fuel to be burnt is positioned, front and rear walls, and a bottom wall. The passage is formed by upstanding wall members extending between the upper plate and the bottom wall and communicates at one end with an inlet for air to be heated and at the other end with an outlet for heated air positioned such that heated air will not issue directly into the path of the natural draw of air to the fire-place.
A number of series of baffle plates are provided at spaced apart positions along the length of the passage and each extends downwardly from the upper plate to a position spaced from the bottom wall.
Description
~1~5~3~
This invention relates to a heater and more particularly a heater adapted for incorporation in an open fire place, either existing or under construction, to better utilise the heat energy output from fuels being burnt in the fire-place.
It is known to provide heater units incorporating combustion chambers, as distinct from open fire-places, for the burning of fuels and also incorporating means to force air adjacent the combustion chamber and outwardly of the unit into the room area to be heated. However, such units are costly to manufacture and are permanently situated units and thus costly to install, whilst also being difficult to maintain and clean.
Portable heating units are also known which basically comprise a plate member adapted to be positioned in an open fire-place and adjacent the fire so as to be heated thereby whilst air is blown over and/or under the plate to be heated thereby and thereafter directed into the room area to be heated.
However, such units are generally inefficient and do not utilise as much as possible of the available heat.
Furthermore, both the known permanent and portable heating units discussed above primarily direct heated air into the area immediately in front
This invention relates to a heater and more particularly a heater adapted for incorporation in an open fire place, either existing or under construction, to better utilise the heat energy output from fuels being burnt in the fire-place.
It is known to provide heater units incorporating combustion chambers, as distinct from open fire-places, for the burning of fuels and also incorporating means to force air adjacent the combustion chamber and outwardly of the unit into the room area to be heated. However, such units are costly to manufacture and are permanently situated units and thus costly to install, whilst also being difficult to maintain and clean.
Portable heating units are also known which basically comprise a plate member adapted to be positioned in an open fire-place and adjacent the fire so as to be heated thereby whilst air is blown over and/or under the plate to be heated thereby and thereafter directed into the room area to be heated.
However, such units are generally inefficient and do not utilise as much as possible of the available heat.
Furthermore, both the known permanent and portable heating units discussed above primarily direct heated air into the area immediately in front
- 2 -of the fire-plclce thus not only affectin~ th~ natura]. draw o~ air into the fire-p]ace and up the chimney to ensure efficient combustion of the fuel, but much of the heated air is also drawn back into the fire and up the chirnney rather than being directed well out into the room area to be heated.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating unit which will overcome or diminish the problems with known heating units of the type discussed above.
The present invention envisages a heating unit adapted to be positioned within an open fire-place, said heating unit including an upper plate of heat conductive material and upon which the fuel to be burnt is positioned, passage means beneath said plate and communicating at one end with an inlet for air to be heated and at the other end with a single outlet for heated air, said passage means incorporating at least one baffle plate directed substantialLy along at least part of the length of the passage means in heat conductive relationship with said uppee pl.ate and servi.ng to divide air flowin~1 through said passage means into at least two channels an(l to also restrict- the flow of air, and wherein said single outlet is positioned to one side of the unit such that heated air wil.l be directed away from the front of the fire-pLace to one side thereof such as to not ;ssue into the path of the natural draw of air to the fire-place but such as to circul.ate in a single path around the room area to be
It is an object of the present invention to provide a heating unit which will overcome or diminish the problems with known heating units of the type discussed above.
The present invention envisages a heating unit adapted to be positioned within an open fire-place, said heating unit including an upper plate of heat conductive material and upon which the fuel to be burnt is positioned, passage means beneath said plate and communicating at one end with an inlet for air to be heated and at the other end with a single outlet for heated air, said passage means incorporating at least one baffle plate directed substantialLy along at least part of the length of the passage means in heat conductive relationship with said uppee pl.ate and servi.ng to divide air flowin~1 through said passage means into at least two channels an(l to also restrict- the flow of air, and wherein said single outlet is positioned to one side of the unit such that heated air wil.l be directed away from the front of the fire-pLace to one side thereof such as to not ;ssue into the path of the natural draw of air to the fire-place but such as to circul.ate in a single path around the room area to be
- 3 -.~ ~
~1~5~ii3Z
h~atecl an(1 t)ack to the inlc~t for the unit.
~rhe effect of the baffle plate or plates in dLvlc~ing t}~e air flow into at least two cl~anllels, whilst at the same time restricting the rate of air flow,firstly ensures that the air flows adjacent a greater number of surfaces from which heat is radiating, that is the surfaces provided by the upper plate, the walls defining the passage means and the baffle plate or plates, whilst the restriction of air flow increases the time for which the air is being heated. Both these effects together increase the efficiency of the heating unit.
Preferably air is forced or blown into the heating unit by a fan situated adjacent the inlet but sufficiently far enough away from the fire to ensure a relatively long fan life.
Alternatively, the fan may be positioned adjacent the outl.et from the heatirlg Ullit to draw air through the hecltillg urlit ancl direct it out into ~tle room area to be heated.
Several preerred embodiments of the inventioll will rlow be described wi.tll refercnce to the accompanyill~ drawings, in whicll;
Figure 1 i.s a perspective view of a heater unit in accordance with one of the siml)lest 1~L91S~32 forms of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure.l, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative heater unit in accordance with the simplest form of the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment o~ the present invention in cooperation with a ducted system, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention also in cooperation with a ducted system.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, one of the simplest forms of the present invention involves a heater unit generally indicated as 10 situated within, and on the hearth of, an open ~ire-place 11, and comprising a heater box 12 and front and rear upstanding fire retaining walls 13 and 1~. The front wall 13 has apertures 15 formed therethrough to allow air to be drawn through the wall to the fire situated on top of the heater box.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the heater box 12 comprises a rear wall 16, a front wall ~S~32 17, first and second side walls 18 and 19, a top wall or plate 20, and a bottom wall or base 21. Wall members 22 are provided within the heater box to extend between the top wall 20 and the bottom wall 21 to form a passage 23 of serpentine configuration as shown and extending between an inlet 24 in the first side wall 18 and an outlet 25 in the front wall 17. As shown, the outlet 25 is positioned toward one end of the front wall 17 and ad~acent the second side wall 19. In the three straight sections shown for the passage 23 a series, in this case three, baffle plates 26 are provided to sub-divide the passage into four channels 27. The baffle plates 26 are formed in heat conductive relationship with the top wall 20 and extend down to a position short of the bottom wall 21 to be spaced therefrom by a distance of in the order of 1/8 of an inch.
Insofar as the wall members 22 defining the passage 23, and the baffle plates 26, are in heat conductive relationship with the top wall 20 upon which the.fire is placed, air forced or drawn through the passage 23 and sub-divided by the baffle plates 26 passes adjacent a relatively large number of heat radiating surfaces as provided by the top wall 20, the wall members 22 and the baffle plates 26, ~ ~ ~ S~ 3~
and thus receives a relatively large amount of the available heat. Furthermore, insofar as the baffle plates act to restrict the flow o~ air, the air remains within the heater box for a relatively long period of time to gain as much heat as possible before being directed out into the room area to be heated.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, air is forced through the heater box by a fan situated in a fan housing 28 and through a supply duct 29 connected to the inlet 24. In this case the fan housing is concealed within the brickwork surrounding the fire-place and air is drawn into the fan housing through an inlet vent communicating with the room area, or opening through an outside wall, or communicating with a space beneath the floor, or in the cavity between the outside wall and the brickwork defining the open fire-place.
Because of the positioning of the outlet 25 air is directed away from the front of the fire-place to one side thereof so as not to affect the natural draw through the fire and up the chimney and to also ensure that heated air is not immediately drawn back into the fire-place and up the chimney.
The inlet to the fan box is also situated such that heated air circulates in a path extending into the room area, around within the area, and back to the inlet.
~S~3~2 With the embodiment of Figure 4, the heating unit is identical to that of Figures 1 to 3 except that the fan housing 28 is positioned within the room area in an exposed position and thus requires no special installation.
In the embodiment of Figure 5 the heater box construction is also identical to that of the previous embodiments, however, in this case, the fan housing 28' and supply duct 29' are placed beneath the floor of the room area and draw air through a duct 30 from one, or more, air intake registers 31 positioned well away from the fire-place.
In the embodiment of Figure 6 the heater box construction is once again the same as that of the previous embodiments, however, the outlet is either not provided in the front wall of the heater box, or is closed off, and air is instead directed through a delivery duct 32 to an outlet ~egister 33 positioned well away from the fire-place, whilst the fan housing 28" and supply duct 29" are positioned beneath the floor of the room area to draw air from the space beneath the floor.
In practice the heater box 12 is formed from steel or cast iron components and measures approximately 32 inches by 18 inches by 4 inches. A two speed fan ~1~St;3Z
may be utilised delivering, at its highest speed, 100 cubic feet of air per minute. In practice outputs of up to 30,000 B.T.U. have been obtained and could be exceeded if preheated air is used such as drawn from the cavity behind the outside wall and the brickwork defining the open fire-place.
A fire cover may be provided to be placed over the fire to retain heat and to regulate the amount of combustion air drawn into the fire to in effect convert the heating unit into a slow combustion unit with lesser fuel consumption. Such a fire cover eliminates the need for a fire screen when the fire is unattended, such as late at night through to early morning, and whilst the fire remains burning the unit will continue to direct heated air into the room area, whilst, with correct regulation of the amount of combustion air and an adequate amount of fuel, the fire will still be burning in the morning.
~1~5~ii3Z
h~atecl an(1 t)ack to the inlc~t for the unit.
~rhe effect of the baffle plate or plates in dLvlc~ing t}~e air flow into at least two cl~anllels, whilst at the same time restricting the rate of air flow,firstly ensures that the air flows adjacent a greater number of surfaces from which heat is radiating, that is the surfaces provided by the upper plate, the walls defining the passage means and the baffle plate or plates, whilst the restriction of air flow increases the time for which the air is being heated. Both these effects together increase the efficiency of the heating unit.
Preferably air is forced or blown into the heating unit by a fan situated adjacent the inlet but sufficiently far enough away from the fire to ensure a relatively long fan life.
Alternatively, the fan may be positioned adjacent the outl.et from the heatirlg Ullit to draw air through the hecltillg urlit ancl direct it out into ~tle room area to be heated.
Several preerred embodiments of the inventioll will rlow be described wi.tll refercnce to the accompanyill~ drawings, in whicll;
Figure 1 i.s a perspective view of a heater unit in accordance with one of the siml)lest 1~L91S~32 forms of the present invention, Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure.l, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a perspective view of an alternative heater unit in accordance with the simplest form of the present invention, Figure 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment o~ the present invention in cooperation with a ducted system, and Figure 6 is a perspective view of a still further embodiment of the present invention also in cooperation with a ducted system.
Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, one of the simplest forms of the present invention involves a heater unit generally indicated as 10 situated within, and on the hearth of, an open ~ire-place 11, and comprising a heater box 12 and front and rear upstanding fire retaining walls 13 and 1~. The front wall 13 has apertures 15 formed therethrough to allow air to be drawn through the wall to the fire situated on top of the heater box.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the heater box 12 comprises a rear wall 16, a front wall ~S~32 17, first and second side walls 18 and 19, a top wall or plate 20, and a bottom wall or base 21. Wall members 22 are provided within the heater box to extend between the top wall 20 and the bottom wall 21 to form a passage 23 of serpentine configuration as shown and extending between an inlet 24 in the first side wall 18 and an outlet 25 in the front wall 17. As shown, the outlet 25 is positioned toward one end of the front wall 17 and ad~acent the second side wall 19. In the three straight sections shown for the passage 23 a series, in this case three, baffle plates 26 are provided to sub-divide the passage into four channels 27. The baffle plates 26 are formed in heat conductive relationship with the top wall 20 and extend down to a position short of the bottom wall 21 to be spaced therefrom by a distance of in the order of 1/8 of an inch.
Insofar as the wall members 22 defining the passage 23, and the baffle plates 26, are in heat conductive relationship with the top wall 20 upon which the.fire is placed, air forced or drawn through the passage 23 and sub-divided by the baffle plates 26 passes adjacent a relatively large number of heat radiating surfaces as provided by the top wall 20, the wall members 22 and the baffle plates 26, ~ ~ ~ S~ 3~
and thus receives a relatively large amount of the available heat. Furthermore, insofar as the baffle plates act to restrict the flow o~ air, the air remains within the heater box for a relatively long period of time to gain as much heat as possible before being directed out into the room area to be heated.
In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, air is forced through the heater box by a fan situated in a fan housing 28 and through a supply duct 29 connected to the inlet 24. In this case the fan housing is concealed within the brickwork surrounding the fire-place and air is drawn into the fan housing through an inlet vent communicating with the room area, or opening through an outside wall, or communicating with a space beneath the floor, or in the cavity between the outside wall and the brickwork defining the open fire-place.
Because of the positioning of the outlet 25 air is directed away from the front of the fire-place to one side thereof so as not to affect the natural draw through the fire and up the chimney and to also ensure that heated air is not immediately drawn back into the fire-place and up the chimney.
The inlet to the fan box is also situated such that heated air circulates in a path extending into the room area, around within the area, and back to the inlet.
~S~3~2 With the embodiment of Figure 4, the heating unit is identical to that of Figures 1 to 3 except that the fan housing 28 is positioned within the room area in an exposed position and thus requires no special installation.
In the embodiment of Figure 5 the heater box construction is also identical to that of the previous embodiments, however, in this case, the fan housing 28' and supply duct 29' are placed beneath the floor of the room area and draw air through a duct 30 from one, or more, air intake registers 31 positioned well away from the fire-place.
In the embodiment of Figure 6 the heater box construction is once again the same as that of the previous embodiments, however, the outlet is either not provided in the front wall of the heater box, or is closed off, and air is instead directed through a delivery duct 32 to an outlet ~egister 33 positioned well away from the fire-place, whilst the fan housing 28" and supply duct 29" are positioned beneath the floor of the room area to draw air from the space beneath the floor.
In practice the heater box 12 is formed from steel or cast iron components and measures approximately 32 inches by 18 inches by 4 inches. A two speed fan ~1~St;3Z
may be utilised delivering, at its highest speed, 100 cubic feet of air per minute. In practice outputs of up to 30,000 B.T.U. have been obtained and could be exceeded if preheated air is used such as drawn from the cavity behind the outside wall and the brickwork defining the open fire-place.
A fire cover may be provided to be placed over the fire to retain heat and to regulate the amount of combustion air drawn into the fire to in effect convert the heating unit into a slow combustion unit with lesser fuel consumption. Such a fire cover eliminates the need for a fire screen when the fire is unattended, such as late at night through to early morning, and whilst the fire remains burning the unit will continue to direct heated air into the room area, whilst, with correct regulation of the amount of combustion air and an adequate amount of fuel, the fire will still be burning in the morning.
Claims (7)
1. A heating unit adapted to be positioned within an open fire-place, said heating unit including an upper plate of heat conductive material and upon which the fuel to be burnt is positioned, passage means beneath said plate and communicating at one end with an inlet for air to be heated and at the other end with a single outlet for heated air, said passage means incorporating at least one baffle plate directed substantially along at least part of the length of the passage means in heat conductive relationship with said upper plate and serving to divide air flowing through said passage means into at least two channels and to also restrict the flow of air, and wherein said single outlet is positioned to one side of the unit such that heated air will be directed away from the front of the fire-place to one side thereof such as to not issue into the path of the natural draw of air to the fire-place but such as to circulate in a single path around the room area to be heated and back to the inlet for the unit.
2. A heating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said passage means is of a serpentine configuration and at least two sets of one, or more, baffle plates are provided at spaced apart positions along the length of said passage
3. A heating unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said outlet is positioned in the front of said unit facing outwardly of said fire-place but towards one side of said unit such that heated air will not issue directly into the path of the natural draw of air to the fire-place.
4. A heating unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said outlet communicates with a duct which in turn delivers heated air to an outlet register positioned away from said fire-place.
5. A heating unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein air to be heated is forced or blown into said heater unit by a fan communicating with said inlet.
6. A heating unit as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fan draws air through a duct communicating with an air intake register situated at a position away from said fire-place.
7. A heating unit as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said passage means is contained within a heater box comprising an upper wall forming said upper plate, front and rear walls, opposed side walls, and a bottom wall, and wherein said outlet opens through said front wall, and said passage means is formed by upstanding wall members extending between said upper and bottom walls, and the, or each, baffle plate extends downwardly from said upper wall to a position spaced from said bottom wall.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU233380 | 1980-02-13 | ||
| AUPE2333 | 1980-02-13 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1145632A true CA1145632A (en) | 1983-05-03 |
Family
ID=3692845
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000369535A Expired CA1145632A (en) | 1980-02-10 | 1981-01-28 | Heater |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1145632A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2076518B (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5038754A (en) * | 1991-01-28 | 1991-08-13 | Scala Neal S | Fireplace heat exchanger |
| US6736133B2 (en) | 2002-04-09 | 2004-05-18 | Hon Technology Inc. | Air filtration and sterilization system for a fireplace |
-
1981
- 1981-01-26 GB GB8102248A patent/GB2076518B/en not_active Expired
- 1981-01-28 CA CA000369535A patent/CA1145632A/en not_active Expired
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2076518B (en) | 1984-05-23 |
| GB2076518A (en) | 1981-12-02 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |